Means for applying stitch-receiving ribs to innersoles.



. J. V.'PO0L-E. MEANS FOR APPLYING STITCH RECEIVING RIBS T0 INNERSOLESPAPPLICATION' FILED APR. 5. 19 16.

1,244,89L Patented Oct. 30,1917.

4: I 40 v Z\ I ma ii I. v. POOL-E.- MEANS FOR APPLYING STITCH RECEIVINGRIBS T0 INNER SOLE S.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5. I9'I6.

1,244,891., Patented Oct.30,1917.

31'; INVI-iNTII R Isa JESSE Puuu;

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JESSE V. POOLE, 0F APINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOLLOYD L. LIVINGSTGN, OF ABINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. so, 1917.

Application filed April 5, 1916. Serial No. 89,083.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J ESSE V. POOLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Abington, in the county of Plymouth and State ofMassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Means forApplying Stitch-Receiving Ribs to Innersoles, of which the following isa specification.

The object of the present invention is to enable innersoles adapted forthe making of shoes by a Goodyear process to be produced rapidly and atlow cost and at the same time in a manner such as to be strong anddurable. Before further describing my present invention I will explainthat the innersole used in Goodyear shoemaking has a rib projecting onone face to take the stitches of the inseam, that is, the seam whichattaches the edges of the upper and the welt to the innersole.Innersoles of this general type have been produced in many diverseforms, in one of which the body of the innersole and the rib areseparate pieces secured together; the body being a flat piece ofleather, leatherboard or a composite structure of textile fabric andleather or leatherboard or other material, and the ribv being a stripfolded longitudinally on or near 1ts center line to form a ridge, andhaving its edge portions bent outwardly and laid flat against the body,being stitched to the body at one or both sides of the folded centralpart, which forms the rib. In someinstances the strip forming the rib isalso cemented or otherwise adhesively secured to the face of the body,It is with an innersole of this character that my present invention isconcerned, and my object is to provide a means for forming a flat stripinto a rib of the described formation and applying it to the innersolebody at one and the same time. Such means comprises a machine, or a setof mechanical instrumentalities, constructed, arranged and organized soas to bend a fiat strip into the, form of a rib with outstandingflanges, apply such rib progressively to the innersole body, and secureit thereto.

In making the complete innersole, a body and a fiat strip of textilefabric or other material suitable for forming the rib are fed togetherinto the machine, and in the act of so feeding the strip it is folded orbent into the shape required for the rib as it approaches the innersolebody. After being brought into contact with the said body stitches arepassed through the ribfo'rming strip at one or both sides of the partwhich forms the rib. This operation is carried on progressivelythroughout the entire part of the sole on which the rib is provided,commencing at the beginning point of the rib and continuing along thesole near one edge thereof toward the toe and back near the oppositeedge of the sole to the point at which the rib ends, the strip beingbent in the progress of thus applying it so as to follow approximatelythe outline of the sole. The idea intended to be emphasized at thispoint is that the folding of the rib, feeding it to the innersole body,feeding the innersole body in parallel with the strip, and-placing thestitches near the point at which the strip comes into contact with thesole, constitute a continuing operation commencing at the beginningpoint of the .rib and continuing progressively throughout the length ofthe latter to its ending point: The strip from which the rib is formedmay be a band or-tape of indefinite length which is severed after beingapplied to the sole as above described, at the point where the rib soapplied ends.

The machine or mechanism includes the combination with a sewing machineof means for feeding an innersole body and means for folding a'tape andguiding it to ward the innersole body. The portion of the machine whichconstitutes the sewing machine proper and includes the means for formingand setting stitches and for feeding the innersole, may be any standardsewing machine, and I have used a type of commercial machine. Thedetails of the sewing machine, therefore, I do not claim as my inventionand have not illustrated thenr; having only shown in a conventional wayso much of a standard commercial machine as is necessary to illustratethe combination in which the invention consists. In the. drawings, 7

Figure l is a front elevation of that part of a sewing machine withwhich my invention is concerned, showing also in elevation a foldingdevice which is a part of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one part of the folding device, theconiplemental part thereof being removed.

Fig. 3 is an under plan view of that part called the shaper.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal central sectlon of of the folding apparatuswhich may be that part of the folding device which is shown inFig. 2.

-Fig. 5 is a cross section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

" the ultimate object of the present invention,

comprises a body 12 and a rib 13. Said body is a flat piece of anysuitable innersole stock, or' it may be a laminated structure made of anumber of layers, being cut to the outline required for a sole of thischaracter. The

.rib 13is made of a strip or tape of any suitable material, which may bea textile fabric, notably cotton duck, although I am not restricted toany particular material. The part of the strip which may be called therib proper is the central part, being formed by doubling the strip at ornear its longitudinal center line in what may be called a central fold,and bending out the edge portions oppositely from one another onlongitudinal folding lines, the location of which determines the heightof the rib. The parts of the strip thus turned out form base flangeswhich are shown at 14 in the drawings, and lie flat against one surfaceof the innersole body. In being placed on the body the rib is guided soas to follow the outline of the sole at a distance back from the edgethereof as usual in articles of this sort, and as shown in Fig. 9.Permanent attachment is made by two seams 15, 16 which pass through theflangesof the rib and through the innersole body near the rib proper.

Either or both of these seams may be omitted and an adhesive of anyvdesired sort may be employed to unite the rib to the body, or adhesivemay be combined with seams for this purpose.

The apparatus which I have used. in producing innersoles of the sortabove described,

and the principles 0f which I here claim as a part of my invention,comprises a sewing machine having combined therewith an attachmentconstructed and adapted to fold a F as flat tape or strip into the ribabove described and to guide it into contact with one face of aninnersole. The particular sewing machine is neither my invention nornovel,

fed and out of alinement with one another,

the awls being in advance of the needles, that is set over toward theside from which the work advances. It is to be understood that any ofthe mechanisms usual in shoe sewing machines, or any other suitablemeans, may be employed for passing awls into the innersole body toengage the same and at the same time puncture it to make passages forthe needles, moving the awls toward the location of the needles toadvance the work, withdraw the awls, and return them to the firstposition; and that the usual or any suitable mechanisms are provided forpassing the needles through the holes made bythe awls and forcooperating with the needles to form stitches in a seam. In Fig. 7 atable is represented at 19 and in Fig. 1 a presser foot is shown at 20.

To the table is fastened a folder 21 which has a lug 22 projecting underthe table and receiving attaching means such as screws 23. The uppersurface of the folder, or at least a part 24- thereof (see Figs. 2 and4:) constitutes a work support, or a part of a work support toward whichthe innersole body is pressed by the presser foot- 20, the

latter being operated in the usual manner or otherwise to permit feedingof the work. Said work supporting surface 24 is flush with the topsurface of the table 19, as appears from Fig. 7, and on the latter ismounts ed a gage or guide 19!, the edge of which serves as a gage forthe innersole body. The forward part of the folder is inclineddownwardly away from the plane of the supporting surface 24, and oversuch inclined portion is placed a plate 25 firmly secured thereto as byscrews 26 (Fig. 8) passingthrough holes 27 in the plate and into tappedsockets 28 in the body of the folder. A rib 29 J projects from the underside of the cover plate 25 into the channel of the folder and cooperateswith the walls of said channel in forming the into the stitch-receivingthe rear part of the folder the bottom of the channedrises between thesides and the middle part to form rounded ledges 31 which graduallymerge into shoulders 32 sharply defining a narrow groove 33 which is theoutlet end of the folding channel. The folding rib 29 occupies thecentral part of this channel which is just enough wider and deepertoadmit that part of the strip which forms the rib proper 13. It will bereadily seen that the rib 29 forms the central fold 13 of the rib stripand that the ledges or shoulders 31, 32 indent the strip between itsedges and the central fold to form the intermediate bends from which thebase flanges 14 spring. The cover plate 25 terminates approximately atthe angle between the supporting surface 24 and the forward part of thefolder, such angle being indicated at 34. Thus the completely folded ribstrip issues with its base flanges lying against the supporting surface24 and exposed so that the body of the innersole may be laid directlyupon them. The

supporting portion of the folder is cut away at 35 on both sides of thetermination of the groove 33 to give room for the entrance and feedingplay of the awls. The needles operate just in rear of the rear end ofthe folder. Thus it will be seen that just as the rib strip is foldedinto the form of a rib, it is laid into contact with the innersole body,and that immediately thereafter both said body and means for folding aflat strip into a rib and the rib are penetrated by the awls andpropelled through a step of the feed, and that then threads are passedthrough the holes made by the awls and 'formed into stitches. Thesesteps take place as part of a continuing operation which is carried outprogressively throughout the entire length of the rib strip and of'thatpart of the innersole body to which the strip is applied. During theoperation of attaching the rib to the body, the step of stitching therib to' the body, the step of laying the rib against the body, the stepof feeding the rib and body simultaneously and the step of folding anunfolded stretch of the rib strip into rib form,- are constantly goingforward. The process is evidently essentially the same and comprises thesame steps when one or the other ofthe seams is omitted. In such caseonly one of the needles and one of the awls are necessary. In caseswhere both seams are omitted and adhesive is depended upon to secure therib to the body, the steps of folding, feeding, and applying the ribstrip against the body are present; and in addition there may be thefurther step of applying adhesive, or of softening a previously appliedand dried adhesive prior to, or after, the lay.-v

ing of the rib against the innersole body.

The invention comprises essentially the suitable guiding means for.conducting the rib and the innersole body into contact, such guidingmeans comprising the folder with its supporting portion 24 and the gage19 The apparatus also includes the feeding and stitch forming means,although I do not intend the invention to be limited in all its phasesto these last named features.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for folding a strip for an innersole having anupstanding rib comprising a folding device having a channel, and afolding rib extending longitudinally of said channel, said foldingdevice having bending elements at each side of said channel, said riband bending elements being constructed and arranged to form alongitudinal central fold in a strip or tape and outwardly bent flanges,and the folding device having a surface to support such flanges and aninnersole body laid against the flanges, and a presser arranged to exertforce toward said supporting surface against such body.

2. An apparatus for folding a strip for innersoles of the characterdescribed comprising a folding device having a channel through which astrip or tape may be drawn longitudinally, a cover secured to saiddevice overlying said channel and having a longitudinally arranged ribprojecting into said channel, bending elements at each side of thechannel for indenting the strip at each side of the folding rib.

3. A machine for forming and applying a stitch-receiving rib to aninnersole body, comprising a folder having a channel through which astrip or tape may be caused to travel, said channel being graduallynarrowed toward the end from which the strip emerges, and a fold formingrib extending into the central part of said channel to cooperate withthe walls thereof in forming a central fold in the strip and outwardlybent flanges, and means constructed and arranged to press the flanges ofthe folded strip and an innersole body placed thereon toward oneanother.

4. A machine for forming and applying a stitch-receiving rib to aninnersole body, comprising a folder having a channel through which astrip or tape may be caused to travel, said channel being graduallynar-' nel having-ledges which merge gradually into distinct shoulders ateach side which form the boundaries. of the narrow end of the channel,and a fold-maintaining element projecting between said ledges toward thebottom of the channel but out of contact therewith.

6. A folding'means comprising. a folder having a channel wide at one endand narrow at the other end, the bottom of'the channel having ledgeswhich merge gradually into distinct shoulders at each side which formthe boundaries of the narrow end of the channel, a cover overlying saidchannel to retain the material being folded therein, and a ribprojecting from said cover between said ledges toward the bottom of thechannel but out of contact therewith.

. the channel, and a fold-maintaining 7. A folding means comprising afolder having a channel wide at one end and narrow at the other end, thebottom of the channel having ledges which merge gradually into distinctshoulders at each side which form the boundaries of the narrow end ofelement projecting between said ledges toward the bottom of the channelbut out of contact therewith, the folder having external supportingsurfaces at each side of the narrow channel end to support the edgeportions of a folder strip emerging from said channel. In testimonywhereof I have aflixed my signature.

'. JESSE v. POOLE.

